Means for supplying shuttles of looms with thread and apparatus therefor



May 16, 1967 H. FEND 3,319,663

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1964 Fig. 1

JUN.

INVENTOR. Helnrlc End May 16, 1967 H. FEND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1964 Fig. 2a

' INVENTOR.

He/n r/cl; En 0 BY W a: f7 ffo rivelys May 16, 1967 H. FEND 3,319,663

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WlTH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 18, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR. H81 kin/7 72/1 0 BY Wwudmaifi, vi M l7 7 for/1 ,gys

May 16, 1967 H: FEND 3,319,663

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LCOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 18, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR He! fir/ch Fen 6/ 115L444 fiffornsys May 16, 1967 H. FEND 3,319,663

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 18, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR. /'/e/hr/C/ 7 8/76 May 16, 1967 H. FEND 3,31

7 MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Flled March 18 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 F ig 9 May 16, 1967 H. FEND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH THREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 18, 1964 INVENTR. H8 1 r/ cA Fa /1d w awaz, 24 9 M flfforng s United States Patent ()filice 3,319,663 Patented May 16, 1967 3,319,663 MEANS FOR SUPPLYRNG SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH TIREAD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Heinrich Feud, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Verwaltungsgesellschaft der Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,882 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Mar. 19, 1963, 3,490/63 19 Claims. (Cl. 13912) The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for supplying the shuttles of weaving looms, in particular wave weaving looms, wherein one shuttle after the other is supplied with a piece of thread which is continually delivered to the shuttles.

Methods are known to the art for supplying loom shuttles in which such shuttles are equipped with spools which must be driven for winding the thread on them, and the thread behind a wound shuttle spool is clamped to an empty shuttle spool, then cut-off between both spools, wound upon the empty spool and at the external end of the thus produced package is again clamped both to this now full spool and to the subsequent emtpy spool, and so forth.

According to another known method similar to the previously described method, the yarn or thread after being clamped upon the momentarily wound shuttle spool is already cut before it is clamped upon the subsequent spool, so that it temporarily provides a free end. This is then blown and sucked against a rotatable disk upon which is placed the still empty subsequent shuttle spool while clamping the yarn or thread end. After winding the thread upon the shuttle spool the thread is clamped at a conveyor transporting the spools to the shed and finally cut.

With higher speeds of the thread small accelerations of thread travel already lead to thread rupture, especially at those locations where the thread for example during unravelling from a supply spool or during winding upon a shuttle spool is subjected to a certain amount of tension. In order to be able to achieve a high working speed at the loom and for this purpose to be able to fill a large number of shuttles per unit time, it is thus necessary that the thread be able to travel continuously and with practically constant speed from the thread supply into the shuttle, and that neither While the length required for filling the individual shuttles is being cut from the continuously delivered thread nor during the retaining, if any, of the free end of this length of thread or of the thread from which it is cut other than local stresses be exerted on the thread.

The previously mentioned known methods, in which in each case a thread is clamped upon the empty shuttle spool and then wound thereupon by driving of the spool, do not correspond to these requirements. Above all, however, with these methods the shuttle spools, the diameter of which is limited, must rotate with practically unattainable high rotational speeds in order to wind up a piece of thread of the required length in the short time available for the filling of each shuttle with continuous circulation of the shuttles and high working speed of the loom.

In order to reduce the rotational speed of the spools to an acceptable value at a loom it would then be necessary to provide a plurality of shuttle filling apparatus to which must be introduced the occurring empty spools alternately for the renewed filling with thread. For this purpose, there would be further required apparatus for distributing the uninterrupted series of empty shuttles to these filling apparatus and for arranging the filled shuttles in regular or uniform sequence.

It is further known to the art to wind the continuously delivered thread onto a sword-like flat carrier so as to form thereon separate thread packages following each other, then to push the foremost one of the same onto one of the shuttles following one another, and to separate the same from the subsequent package by cutting the thread only when the shuttle has entered the shed and the thread at its beginning has been beaten. Since the thread, during displacement of the thread package along its said sword-like carrier or support and during its introduction into the shuttle, is strongly stressed also with this method, it is only possible to work with small operating speeds and to fill a small number of shuttles per unit of time.

Additionally, these heretofore known techniques require complicated and expensive apparatus on account of the multiple partial operations which must be carried out during the supply of each shuttle, for example apparatus incorporating members the movement of which is cyclically controlled. Such apparatus, in turn, possess only a limited output. In order to permit a plurality of them to operate upon the same loom it is necessary to provide complicated shuttle transport devices, and as the case may be, storage apparatus for the empty and filled shuttles.

Thus, the method and apparatus of the present invention has for one of its primary objects to overcome these disadvantages and to provide the possibility of supplying a large number of shuttles per unit time with thread pieces cut to length by means of simple operationally reliable means, as such is necessary with high speed weaving looms, in particular wave weaving looms. In so doing, the thread should also be considerably relieved from tension forces.

This problem is solved in accordance with the inventive method in that, in each case during the travel of a thread towards one of the shuttles a thread path leading to another shuttle is freed or rendered unobstructed and the thread path leading to the first mentioned shuttle is blocked during cutting of the thread.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to apparatus for the execution of the aforesaid inventive method characterized by the features that, there is provided a stationary body member having one or more channels for the continuous delivery of a respective thread discharging into a gliding or slide surface. Additionally, there is provided a movable body member travelling upon the glide or slide surface of the stationary body member, such movable body member exhibiting at least two distributing channels for each of the mentioned thread delivery channels. The inlet opening of these two distributing channels during the movement of the corresponding body member alternately come into communication with the mouth of the corresponding delivery channels of the glide or slide surface of the stationary body member, and the outlet openings of which in each case are brought into operable communication with a thread inlet opening of a shuttle which is to be filled, whereby the distributing channels associated with each delivery channel are separated from one another by intermediate walls extending to the aforementioned glide or slide surface which with the edge of the mouth of these delivery channels form means for cutting of the thread and for blocking the distributing channel through which travels the cut-off thread piece from the delivery channel.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings wherein like reference numerals generally designate similar or analogous elements, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a wave Weaving loom provided with an inventive apparatus for the supplying of the shuttles with thread;

of the shuttles in such a wave weaving loom of the type provided with two apparatuses for supplying such shuttles with thread;

FIGURE 2a is a schematical representation, partly in cross-section on line IIaIIa of FIGURE 2, of the thread feeding device in each such apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is an axial sectional view taken along lines III-III of FIGURE 4 of such a supply apparatus;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the same supply apparatus of FIGURE 3, as viewed from above, in a first working position with an empty shuttle and with a shuttle which is almost finished being filled with a piece of thread;

FIGURE 5 illustrates the same supply apparatus depicted in FIGURES 3 and 4, likewise as viewed from above, yet in a working position of its rotating portion when rotated approximately 100 further, and in which the shuttle which was still empty in FIGURE 4 is partially filled and the almost completely filled shuttle of FIGURE 4 has now moved along;

FIGURES 6 and 7 show details of the supply apparatus depicted in FIGURES 3 to 5;

FIGURES 8a to 8e illustrate the arrangement of the air channels and the thread channels in a portion of the apparatus according to FIGURES 37 for five different positions of the rotating portion projected and developed upon a cylinder surface;

FIGURE 9 is an axial sectional view analogous to the view of FIGURE 3 and illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrates details of the supply apparatus depicted in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 schematically illustrates a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURES 13 and 14 depict details of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Describing now the drawings, it will be seen that FIG- URE 1 generally provides an overall view of a wave weaving loom. According to FIGURE 2, two apparatuses possessing physical structure as depicted in FIGURES 3 to 8 are installed alternatively, one apparatus which corresponds to the embodiment depicted in FIGURES 9 to 11 may be provided. This 'wave weaving loom incorporates a warp beam 80 mounted in a frame 57 from which the warp threads 82 travel over a tension roller 81 and, then, by means of movable harnesses 59 are raised and lowered groupwise in such a manner that the wave-shaped travelling sheds are formed. A shuttle 42 always travels in each shed for inserting a weft thread and at the end of its path of travel departs empty from the warp 82. By virtue of continuous beating up of each inserted weft thread there results the woven fabric. This fabric travels over a breast roll 83, two deflecting rollers 84 and a contact or pressure roller 85 onto a cloth beam 86. An electric motor provided with gear or transmission block 58 drives the harnesses 59, the shuttles 42 and the cloth beam 86 through the agency of an appropriate drive mechanism not shown in further detail.

The shuttles 42 which move out of the warp 82 empty arrive, in accordance with FIGURE 2, at one, for exam,- ple designated by reference numeral 40, of two deflecting wheels 40, 40'. Since the physical structure of both deflecting wheels 40, 40' and associated structure is sub stantially identical the description to follow will primarily deal with deflecting wheel 40. Each shuttle 42 transcribes an arc of 180 at this deflecting roller or wheel 40, then travels externally of the warp 82 towards the second deflecting wheel 40' where it again transcribes an arc of 180 and once again enters into a shed which has just opened and is travelling through the warp 82. During such time that each second shuttle 42 is located at the deflecting wheel 40, and in accordance with FIGURE 2, each second shuttle 42 is fillted with a new piece of weft thread and the intermediate disposed, still empty shuttles 42 are filled in the same manner with apiece of weft thread during such time as they are located at the second deflecting roller or wheel 40. It is to be appreciated that with a filling apparatus of the type depicted in FIGURES 9 to 11 all of the shuttles 42 and 42' are filled during such time as they are located upon the deflecting wheel 40, so that filling mechanism or apparatus is no longer necessary for the shuttles while they are located at the second deflecting Wheel 40'.

With the arrangement depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2 each of both of the filling apparatus encompassing the deflecting wheels 40 and 40 have delivered thereto a thread 30 and 30' respectively, continuously drawn off a respective supply spool 45 and 45 by means of a pair of rollers 43, 43a and 43, 43a respectively, with the supply spools 45 and 45 being mounted upon a respective stationary shaft 45a and 45a. One of the rollers of each pair namely, the rollers 43 and 43 is driven synchronously with the harnesses 59 and the shuttles 42 by means of the gear or transmission block 58. Preferably, as shown in FIG, 2a both of the rollers of each pair 43 and 43 are tapered or conical. The threads 30 and 30' are guided through the nip between the rollers 43 and 43a and 43' and 43a, respectively, by thread guides 92 and 92, respectively, which preferably are displaceable in a direction parallel to the axes of the said rollers. By changing the position of the respective thread guide 92, 92 in that direction, it is thus possible to displace the point of passage of the thread 30, 30' through the nip of the respective pair of rollers, so that the thread will be engaged by a portion of different diameter and circumferential speed of the respective driving roller 43 or 43. It is thus possible to change the speed with which the thread is delivered, also in relation to the speed of the shuttle, at least within specific limits.

The supply apparatus to which the thread 30 is continuously delivered in the aforedescribed manner exhibits a stationary body member 33 and a rotating body member 25 (see FIGURE 3) cooperating with the stationary body member 33, such rotating body member 25 being seated upon the deflecting roller or wheel 40 and together with the latter being rotatably mounted upon a non-rotating journal or plug 41. Three compressed air conduits or pipes 20, 26 and 27 are connected to the stationary body member 33 and find their extension in channels of the body member 33 bearing the same reference numerals. These channels discharge or open at the flat underside of the stationary body member 33 at the same spacing from its vertical axis, and indeed, the channel 26 is in front of the channel 20 and the channel 27 is in front of such channel 20, measured in the direction of rotation of the deflecting wheel 40. All three compressed air conduits 20, 26 and 27 are connected to a common compressed air hose 38. A conducting or delivery bore 37a for the thread 30 discharges into the delivery channel 20 by means of the connecting piece 37 of the corresponding compressed air conduit 20.

An essential device in each apparatus is a thread cutting and control mechanism. This mechanism comprises an upper, stationary knife disk 21 fixed to the plane lower face of the stationary body member 33, and a lower, rotating knife disk 23 similarly fixed to the plane top face of the rotating body member 25. The plane lower face of the stationary knife disk 21 shown in FIG- URE 7 and the plane top face of the rotating knife disk 23 shown in FIG. 6 are surface ground to make a perfect contact with each other.

According to a modification not shown in the drawing, the stationary knife disk 21 can be formed integral with stationary body member 33 and rotating knife disk 23 integral with rotating body member 25. This rotating body member 25 is composed of two shells 25a and 25b, each of which approximately possesses the form of a surface of revolution with quadrantal-shaped vertical center section (portion of a torus surface), and which leaves free between themselves two flat distributing channels 28 separated from one another. Each of these distributing channels 28 narrows towards its lower external end 28a until reaching an opening (see FIGURE 4 and 5) at which there is connected at respective radially outwardly directed nozzle member 39. The lower shell 25b of the rotating body member 25 is mounted above and bears against the deflecting roller or wheel 49 as well as being rotatably mounted upon the journal 41, with the deflecting wheel 40, in turn, bearing against a collar 44 of the journal 41. In order to retain both of the disks 21 and 23 of the cutting and control mechanism pressed against one another there is arranged "between a spring plate 95 connected with the rigid journal 41 and the upper side of the stationary body member 33 a pressure spring 96, such spring 96 downwardly pressing the stationary body member 33 relative to the deflecting wheel 40.

The stationary steel disk 21 (FIGURE 7) which is fixed to the stationary body member 33 of the cutting and control mechanism exhibits three holes or apertures 34, 35 and 36, the arrangement of which corresponds to that of the outlet or discharge of the compressed air channels 20, 26 and 27 in the lower face of the stationary body member 33. At its rearward end, as viewed with respect to the rotational direction of the deflecting Wheel 46, the kidney-shaped hole or aperture 34 is bounded by a sharp cutting edge 22. The knife disk 23 (FIGURE 6) seated at the rotating body member 25 exhibits two arcuateshaped slots 24 which correspond or coincide with the distributing channels 28 and which cooperate with the holes 34, 35 and 36 of the knife disk 21, and each of which are bounded at their respective rear end, as viewed in the direction of rotation, by means of a sharp cutting edge 24a. The respective cutting edges 24a cooperates with the aforesaid cutting edge 22 of the hole 34 of the stationary knife disk 21.

Each of the deflecting wheels 40, 40' possess four arms for the receipt of a respective shuttle 42, 42. Since each second shuttle, that is each shuttle designated by reference numeral 42 is to be filled with a piece of thread during such time as it cooperates with the deflecting wheel 40, the rotating body member 25 carries above each second arm of the rotating wheel 40 a nozzle 39 arranged in such a manner that it discharges into the thread inlet opening 42a of the shuttle 42 which is momentarily seated upon such arm. In the same manner the rotating body member (not designated in the drawing but similar to member 25) arranged upon the deflecting wheel 40 carries above each second arm of the aforesaid wheel 40' a nozzle 39 in such an arrangement that it opens into the thread inlet opening of a shuttle 42 momentarily seated upon this arm, as best seen by reference to FIGURE 2.

The heretofore described shuttle filling ap aratus onerates in the following manner: The thread 39 drawn off the supply spool 45 through the agency of the pair of rollers 43 and delivered with a speed proportional to the rotational speed of the deflecting wheel 40 continuously travels through the connecting piece 37 into the con".- pressed air channel 20 of the stationary body member 33, and is further conveyed by means of the com ressed air flowing through the delivery line 38 and the compressed air conduit or line 20. If one of the slots 24 of th rotating knife disk 23 is located in front of the hole 34 of the stationary knife disk 21 (FIGURES 8b, 8c, 8d), the thread 30 travels by means of the compressed air stream through this hole 34, this slot 24 and the corresponding distributing channel 28 of the rotating body member 25 towards the relevent outlet nozzle 39, and is then conveyed by means of the compressed air stream into the shuttle 42. Advantageously, the shuttles 42 are constructed in accordance with the commonly assigned, copending United States application, Serial No. 206,609 of Heinrich Fend and Hans Hentz, entitled Device For Piling-Up A Weft Thread For Looms, as a hollow body with a thread inlet opening 42a and a second opening 42b extending towards the outside from the hollow compartment 42c of the hollow body member, through which the beginning of the thread departs during the blowing-in of the thread and is subjected to the action of brake means. The thread is then deposited by means of the compressed air stream in zig-zag formation within the hollow compartment 420 (see FIGURES 4 and 5) of the shuttle 42 and can latter be siezed during insertion into the shed at its beginning portion extending out of the aforementioned second opening. As a result, there is rendered superfluous every seizing of the new thread beginning or the end of the cut-off thread piece at the moment of cutting.

If during the rotation of the deflecting roller or wheel 40 and the rotating body member 25 the cutting edge 24a of the slot 24, through which travels or traverses the thread 30, approaches the cutting edge 22 of the stationary knife disk 21 then a connection or operable communication is established by means of the other slot 24 between the compressed air and thread delivery channel 20 and the hole 34 of the stationary knife disk 21 and the distributing channel 28 communicating with this other slot 24 (see FIGURE 8e). As soon as the cutting edge 24a of the first mentioned slot 24 has reached the aforementioned cutting edge 22 then the connection between the compressed air channel 20 and the channel 28 traversed by the thread is interrupted (see FIGURE 8a), and, at the same time, the thread 30 is sheared off between both of these cutting edges 22, 24a. The air coming from the compressed air channel 2! then only still streams through the newly established connection, as previously mentioned, via the other slot 24 towards the other distributing channel 28 and through such towards the second outlet nozzle 39. The new starting portion of the thread 30 which is further continuously delivered by means of the channels 37a and 20 during and after the cut ing of the further thread piece 32 travelling towards the shuttle can be momentarily restrained in the region ofthe cooperating cutting edges 22 and 24a between the knife disks 21 and 23. The further continuously delivered thread 30 then forms in the channel 28 a small loop 31 (FIGURE until its starting portion is released in consequence of further rotation of the knife disk 23 and the air current conveys such towards the second outlet nozzle 39. At the same instance of time, a new shuttle 42 arrives in front of the second outlet nozzle 39 and the thread delivered through the latter is then deposited into this new shuttle.

The end portion of the thread piece 32 which at this time is cut from the thread 30 (see right-hand portion of FIGURE 8a) and located still in the first-mentioned distributing channel 28 of the rotating body member 25 is now no longer further conveyed by the air stream coming from the compressed air channel 29. On the other hand, due to the rotation of the rotating knife disk 23 there is presently provided a new connection or communication between the compressed air channel 27 and the relevent outlet nozzle 39, through the hole 35 of the stationary knife disk 21, the slot 24 of the rotating knife disk 23, previously communicating via the hole 34 with the compressed air channel 29, and the corresponding channel 28 containing the end of the severed thread piece through which new connection this severed thread piece 32 moves towards the corresponding shuttle 42 which at this time is almost full. In this manner, the air stream now coming through the compressed air channel 27 conveys the remainder of the thread piece 32 into the shuttle 42 (FIGURE 8a and FIGURE 8b, left and right).

In accordance with a nonillustrated variant the hole 36 of the stationary knife disk 23 provided for the aforesaid connection or communication could be arranged at a small distance behind the hole 34, that is at the outermost right quarter of the development view according to FIG- URE 8, and could be connected with the compressed air channel 20 by means of a groove provided in the frontal face of the stationary body member 33. In this case, then, the compressed air channel 27 would be superfluous. The aforementioned connection would then already be providecl immediately after the introduction of the beginning of the thread 30 into the outlet nozzle 39 and would remain open only a little bit longer after the cutting of this thread than necessary for conveying the end of the severed thread piece 32 through this nozzle 39.

A further supplementary or additional air current flows through the compressed air channel 26 and the hole or aperture 35 of the stationary knife disk 21, and indeed, through that slot 24 of the rotating knife disk 23 and that channel 28 of the rotating body member 25. After cutting of the thread piece 32 from the thread 30 said thread is continuously delivered by means of the compressed air channel and the hole 34 into the succeeding channel 28. By virtue of this additional or supplementary air current from the channel 26, advantageously disposed towards the rear of the path to the other shuttle (see FIGURES 8b, 80), there is caused an increase of the flow velocity towards the corresponding outlet nozzle 39 and, in consequence of which, the beginning of the thread 30 is tautly drawn and automatically threaded into the relevent nozzle 39 (see FIGURES 8a to 80). After this has occurred the employed slot 24 and distributing channel 28 travel out of the zone of the compressed air channel 26 (see FIGURE 8, after position 0).

According toanother embodiment of inventive apparatus not illustrated in the drawing, the rotating body member 25 could exhibit three or more distributing channels 28 and a like number of outlet nozzles 39. Moreover, the arrangement could be so constructed that not only every second shuttle, but rather every shuttle following one another comes into operable cooperation with one of the outlet nozzles 39 of this apparatus to which an individual thread is continuously delivered. In the case of three channels 28 and three outlet nozzles 39 the compressed air channels 26 and 27 of the body member 33 and the corresponding holes 35 and 36 respectively, of the stationary knife disk 21 would be arranged approximately 60 and 120 respectively, instead of 90 and 180 respectively, in front of the channel 20 and the kidney-shaped hole 34 of the aforesaid stationary knife disk 21. Further, each of the slots 24 of the rotating knife disk 23 would extend through an are which is somewhat less than 120, rather than through an arc of approximately 180. With the same thread delivery speed and the same length of thread piece by means of which each shuttle should be filled, with this embodiment the number of shuttles which can be'filled by means of the one apparatus per unit time is only half as large as with the machine according to FIG- URE 2 exhibiting two shuttle filling apparatus.

This disadvantage is overcome in accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIGURES 9 to 11 constructed for the filling of all successive shuttles of the installation or apparatus according to FIGURE 2 following one another at an angular spacing of 90 about the deflecting wheel 40, so that there is obviated the therein provided filling device at the second deflecting Wheel 40. Two threads 30, 36 are continuously delivered to the apparatus according tdFIGURES 9 to 11. Consequently, two compressed air channels 20 and 20' are provided in the stationary body member 60 into which these threads extend, two channels 27 and 27 for the delivery of compressed air for completing the conveyance of the cut-off thread pieces, and finally two channels 26 and 26' for the delivery of compressed air for the threading'operation for the beginning of the threads 30, further delivered after the cutting operation into the presently four provided outlet nozzles 39. Of the four outlet nozzles 39, two which are arranged at 180 with respect to one another serve for delivering pieces 32 of the thread 30, the other two arranged 90 displaced with respect to these serve for the delivery of pieces of the other thread 30.

The compressed air channels 20, 20, 25, 26, 27 and 27 are all connected via appropirate correspondingly designated conduits to a common compressed air delivery line 38. The channels 20, 26, 27 open at the flat underside of the stationary body member into an inner circle, the channels 20, 26' and 27 at an external or outer circle. Consequently, the holes or apertures 7 8 70, 72 and 79, 71, 73 respectively, of the stationary knife disk 67 providing a gliding surface means are also arranged at two difierent circles. However, at each of these circles the arrangement of these holes is similar to the holes 34, 35, 36 according to FIGURE 7 of the first described embodiment. At their rear end, viewed with respect to the rotational direction of the rotating body member 61, the kidneyshaped holes 78, 79 are bounded by cutting edges 68, 69, the threads 30 and 30 travelling through the aforesaid holes 78 and 79. respectively. The rotating knife disk 66 exhibits two inner arcuate slots 87, 88 which cooperate with the holes 78, 70, 72 as well as two external arcuate slots 89, which cooperate with the holes 79, 71, 73. These aforesaid arcuate slots are bounded at their rear ends by cutting edges 74, 75 and 76, 77 respectively cooperating with the stationary cutting edges 68 and 69 respectively, for cutting of the respective thread. The eX- ternal arcuate slots 89, 90 are arranged 90 displaced with respect to the inner arcuate slots 87, 88, whereas the centers of the corresponding holes 78, 79 and 70, 71 and 72, 73 of the stationary knife disk 67, in each case, are disposed upon the same radial line. Consequently, there results that the same control operation alternatively has reference to an inner and an outer arcuate slot. Each arcuate slot 87 to 90 is connected via a distributing channel 62 to 65 provided in the rotating body member 61 with one of the outlet nozzles 39.

Considered apart from the doubling of the number of delivered threads, the different channels and the outlet nozzles, the mode of operation of this embodiment for each individual outlet nozzle 39 and the thread delivered to such can be considered to be similar as with the firstdescribed embodiment, so that any further discussion thereof would appear to be unwarranted.

In FIGURES 12 to 14 there is illustrated a filling apparat-us provided for the filling of the shuttles of a circular loom. A single thread 30 is delivered to this apparatus, however, such apparatus possesses six outlet nozzles 47 Which during each rotation of the Wheel 40 carrying such nozzles permits filling in series manner one shuttle 42 after the other with a piece of thread.

The wheel 40 travels synchronously together with the shuttles 42 moved in a circle by means of their own set of radially reciprocating propelling members in such a manner that in each case the mouth of an outlet nozzle 47 is situated opposite the thread inlet opening of a shuttle. Each shuttle, however, is separated from the Wheel 40 by an intermediate space through which extend the warp threads 94 forming the inner side of the travelling shed which threads are deflected inwardly towards the rotational axis of the aforesaid wheel, by appropriate radially reciprocating heddles as a shuttle approaches.

In axial section the embodiment of apparatus according to FIGURES 12 to 14 completely corresponds to that embodiment depicted in FIGURES 3 to 8, with the exception that the outlet nozzles 47, in this instance, are longer than With the. previous mentioned embodiment.

The stationary knife disk 49 of this apparatus again exhibits a kidney-shaped hole 52 for the passage of the thread 30, bounded at its rear end by a cutting edge 53, a hole 50 serving to deliver the auxiliary air stream for delivering the rear end of the cut-off thread piece, which hole 50 in this instance is only displaced approximately 45 behind the aforesaid kidney-shaped hole 52. Furthermore, in this embodiment there is provided a hole 51 located approximately 30 in front of the cutting edge 53 for the auxiliary air current which should assist the delivery or conveying of the forward end of the thread delivered into the subsequent nozzle which is to be filled. The rotating knife disk 55 incorporates six arcuate slots 56, each of which extend over approximately one-sixth of the circumference of the disk and bounded at its rear end by means 9 of a cutting edeg 54 cooperating with the cutting edge 53 of the stationary disk 49.

Each of these slots 56 communicates with the corresponding nozzle 47 through a channel 48 in the rotating body on the hub of wheel 40.

The mode of operation of this embodiment of apparatus is the same as described with the first embodiment depicted in FIGURES 3 to 8; however, in this embodiment the sequence of operations from the cutting of a thread piece until the cutting of the next occurs during a onesixth rotation of the support or carrier wheel 4%, that is, during such time as an arm of this wheel 40 moves through the angle a. Approximately the same time expires from the moment that the forward end of the thread delivered with the aid of the auxiliary air stream flowing the hole 51 has reached the orfice or mouth of a nozzle 47 up to the time in which the rear end of the cut thread has departed from this nozzle with the aid of the auxiliary air stream flowing through the hole 50.

This embodiment of inventive apparatus thus permits the shuttles of circular weaving looms to continually revolve, whereby upon passing through the angle on they are filled with a piece of thread, whereas for the remaining portion of their travel, however, this thread piece is already inserted into the fabric, so that at the beginning of the next revolution they are in preparedeness for the receipt of a new thread piece. The portion of the path of travel of the carrier wheel 40 retained for the filling operation is the same for all of the shuttles. Thus, at a circular weaving loom there is not produced a hose or tube, rather a web of fabric, the width of which corresponds to the length of the remaining circumferential portion, and can be used as such without a cutting-open operation. In contradistinction to known circular weaving looms with which the shuttles for the production of a hose in each case take up a larger supply of weft thread, in this case it is never necessary to stop the circular weaving loom for the purpose of filling the shuttles.

With all of the heretofore described embodiments of filling apparatus, the thread pieces by means of which the shuttles be filled, are always practically of the same length and their length is independent of the operational speed because the speed with which the thread is delivered is regulated to a value which is proportional to the rotational speed of the rotating knife disk. It is, however, possible by changing the delivery speed of the thread with respect to this rotational speed to change the length of the thread pieces, if such is required.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Method for supplying the shuttles of looms with Weft thread comprising continually supplying through a plurality of thread paths a single weft thread to be used in supplying shuttles, supplying a first shuttle with said weft thread along a first thread path, freeing a second thread path leading to a second shuttle during the travel of said thread in said first thread path, cutting said thread to supply a cut-to-length piece of weft thread to said shuttle, blocking said first thread path during said cutting operation and directing said thread along said second thread path.

2. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 1 including the step of employing a flowing medium for delivering the thread to said shuttles.

3. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 2 wherein said flowing medium is air.

4. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 2 including the steps of freeing a thread path to said second shuttle for a thread-containing branch stream of the aforesaid flowing medium and during free- 10 ing of said thread path to said second shuttle blocking the path of said branch stream to said first shuttle.

5. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 4 including the step of allowing another branch stream of the flowing medium to flow through said first thread path containing the end portion of the cutoff thread after having blocked said first path of said first branch stream.

6. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 4 including the step of causing said first branch stream of the flowing medium to flow through an end portion of said second path to said second shuttle after having freed said path to said second shuttle for said branch stream.

7. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 1 including the step of delivering the weft thread at a speed which is inversely proportional to the time required to supply a shuttle.

8. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom accord ing to claim 1 including the step of continuously moving the shuttles during said supplying operation.

9. Method for supplying the shuttles of a loom according to claim 1 including the step of supplying successive shuttles alternately with cut-to-length threads of two different continuously delivered threads.

16. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms with a cut-to-length piece of a weft thread continually delivered to the shuttles, comprising a stationary body member provided with a glide surface, said stationary body member having a delivery channel for the continuous delivery of a thread and having an opening discharging into said glide surface, a movable body member, means upon said movable body member travelling upon said glide surface of said stationary body member, said movable body member having two distributing channels operable with said delivery channel, each said distributing channel including an inlet opening and a discharge opening, said inlet openings during movement of said movable body member alternate ly coming into cooperable communication with the opening of the corresponding delivery channel at said glide surface and said discharge openings momentarily being capable of being brought into operable communication With a respective thread inlet opening of a shuttle to be supplied, said distributing channels associated with each delivery channel being separated from one another by an intermediate wall, means extending to said glide surface which together with an edge of the aforesaid opening of said delivery channel form a device for cutting of the thread and for blocking the distributing channel through which travels the cut-off thread piece from said delivery channel.

11. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 10 including a plurality of delivery channels each provided for the continuous delivery of a respective thread and each having an opening discharging through said glide surface, and tWo distributing channels operable with each such delivery channel.

12. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 10, said glide surface comprising a stationary knife disk provided at said stationary body member and said means of said movable body member comprising a movable knife disk, said stationary and movable knife disks defining said cutting and blocking device.

13. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 11 wherein said opening of each delivery channel and said inlet openings of said distributing channels associated with each delivery channel are constructed that in each case when blocking the distributing channel through which travels the cut-off thread piece another distributing channel is simultaneously placed in operable communication with said delivery channel.

14. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 11 wherein each said delivery channel and said distributing channels are constructed as channel means for a flowable medium conveying said thread,

delivery means for such a flowable medium connected with each delivery channel, said stationar body member and said movable body member cooperating with one another to provide a control mechanism for a stream of said floWable medium conveying said thread.

15. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms ac cording to claim 14 including an auxiliary channel connected to said delivery means and to said fiowable medium and opening into said glide surface of said stationary body member, said auxiliary channel subsequent to said cutting and blocking operations operatively connecting such last-mentioned distributing channel with said flowable medium in order to complete conveying of the cut-off thread piece through such distributing channel.

16. Appartus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 15 wherein said auxiliary channel is connected by a delivery channel to said delivery means for the fiowable medium.

17. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 13 wherein each said delivery channel and said distributing channels are constructed as channel means for a fiowable medium conveying the thread, delivery means for said flowable medium connected with each delivery channel, said stationary body member and said movable body member being constructed and cooperating with one another to provide a control mechanism for a stream of said fiowable medium conveying the thread, an auxiliary channel connected to said delivery means for said flowable medium and opening into said glide surface of said stationary body member, said auxiliary channel being operatively connected with said other distributing channel after said cutting and blocking operation and operable to assist said delivery channel in conveyance of the beginning of the further delivered thread through said another distributing channel.

18. Apparatus for supplying the shuttles of looms according to claim 10 including a shuttle transport mechanism, means for introducing each continuously delivered thread into its associated delivery channel, said introducber provided with a glide surface, said stationary body' member having a delivery channel for the continuous delivery of a thread and having an opening discharging into said glide surface, a movable body member having means travelling upon said glide surface of said stationary body member, said movable body member being provided with two distributing channels for said delivery channel, each said distributing channel including an inlet opening and a discharge opening, said inlet openings during move ment of said movable body member alternately coming into cooperable communication with the opening of the corresponding delivery channel at said glide surface and saiddischarge openings momentarily being capable of being brought into operable communication with a thread inlet opening of a shuttle to be filled, said glide surface and said means of said movable body member being provided with intercooperating means for cutting of the thread and for blocking the distributing channel through which travels the cut-off thread piece from said delivery channel.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,368 1/1953 Dunod 139 22'4 2 ,902,058 9/1959 Walton 39 224 FOREIGN PATENTS 240,564 10/1959 Australia.

481,503 6/1953 Italy.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, H. S. JAUDON,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. METHOD FOR SUPPLYING THE SHUTTLES OF LOOMS WITH WEFT THREAD COMPRISING CONTINUALLY SUPPLYING THROUGH A PLURALITY OF THREAD PATHS A SINGLE WEFT THREAD TO BE USED IN SUPPLYING SHUTTLES, SUPPLYING A FIRST SHUTTLE WITH SAID WEFT THREAD ALONG A FIRST THREAD PATH, FREEING A SECOND THREAD PATH LEADING TO A SECOND SHUTTLE DURING THE TRAVEL OF SAID THREAD IN SAID FIRST THREAD PATH, CUTTING SAID THREAD TO SUPPLY A CUT-TO-LENGTH PIECE OF WEFT THREAD TO SAID SHUTTLE, BLOCKING SAID FIRST THREAD PATH DURING SAID CUTTING OPERATION AND DIRECTING SAID THREAD ALONG SAID SECOND THREAD PATH. 